Gas-meter attachment



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g 927 c. B. GAMBLE GAS METER ATTACHMENT Filed July 24, 1924 2 Shuts$heot 1 -I/YVENTOR 67mm E6 5. GJMBLE .5) WW4 fire/award 1,641,07 1 c. B. GAMBLE 9 GAS METER ATTACHMENT flrTo /wsrs Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

CHARLES B. GAMBLE, or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNEsoTA, AssieNoR or oNE-nALE To JOHN LUCAS, or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

GAs-METEE ATTACHMENT.

Application filed July 24,

This invention relates to improvements in gas meters such as are commonly used in buildings, homes, etc., to record or measure, in cubic feet, the amount of gas drawn from the service or main supply line for lighting,

heating, or other purposes.

The particular object of this invention is to provide an attachment or a device to be used in conjunction with such a. meter, whereby, should the registering mechanism therein fail to operate, the flow of gaseous fluid therethrough will subsequently be in terrupted or shut off.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a gas meter, means for automatically closing and locking the intake port to the gas chamber therein when the meter is not functioning.

A further object is to provide such a device, which, when used in conjunction with a meter, will cause the flow-of gas therethrough to be interrupted, should a leak 00- our in the measuring mechanism therein, such as in the diaphragms and valves.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and theaccompanying drawings and will-be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of. the invention but it is to be I understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

; Figure 4 is a plan view of Figure 3. show--.'

ing the valve in closed position;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5'5 of Figure 4. 7

In the selected embodiment of the.inven- *tion here shown there is illustrated a gas meter of ordinary construction comprismg a 09.81119 11, in the lower part of which the usual diaphragms, (not shown) are mount ed. upper portion of the meter is sepa ,vided on the tangent post 17.

'1924. Serial-No. 727,940.

rated from the diaphragm chambers by means of a gallery plate 12, thereby providing the usual compartment wherein the measuring mechanism is mounted. The usual gas chamber 13 is shown at one end of the gallery 'wherein the usual D slide valves 14 are reciprocally mounted and operated by means of connecting rods 15, which p have one end connected to a crank 16 pro- An adjustable crank arm 18 is terminally mounted on the tangent post and has connected thereto a pair of connecting rods 19 which are operatedvby the flag arms 21 mounted upon the upper ends of upright shafts 22 which are connected to and actuated by the diaphragms when gas is flowing through the meter. The usual" registering mechanism 23 is indicated 'indotted lines in Figure 2 and is operable from the tangent shaft by means of the worm gears 24.

The gas intake pipe 25' is shown at one side of the meter and this pipecommunicates with the intake pipe 26 which has one end in communication with the gas chamber 13 through a port 27. Each slide valve 14 comprises three ports. ,The inner port 28 of each valve communicates with the interior of the diaphragms and the outer ports 29 communicate with the diaphragm chambers while the central port 31 in each valve communicates with .a discharge passage 32 (shown in dotted lines in Figure 2) which communicates with the discharge pipe 33, shown also in Figure 1.

The important feature of this invention resides in the novel-means provided for closing and lockingthe intake-port 27 to the gaschamber. 13 when the meter is inoperative. Such means preferably consists of a clapper valve 34 suitably mounted on pivot-s 35 secured to the gallery plate 12. An outwardly and upwardly extending end portion 36 is provided on the valve 34 and functions as a means to counterbalance the weight of the valve in order that it may be more readily opened by the pressure of the gas when the -meter isfunctioning. The form of locking mechanism here shown for locking the valve in closed positionpre'ferably consists of a receptacle 37 having a top attached thereto in any convenient way as bysoldering or brazing and a hub 38 provided thereon and bored loosely to fit the lower end of the tangent pea 17,215!

shown in li igure $3. I have here shown this receptacle as formed of sheet metal but it is to he understood that it may he constructed o i any suitable material and in any manner desired to serve the purpose. This receptaclc is preterahly filled with a viscous substance 39 such. for instance. as petroleum jelly. and an eccentric ell is rigidly mounted upon the tangent post 17 adapted to rotate tluirewith and in the viscous medium 39. .l spiral spring: l2 is mounted beneath the receptacle 37 and has one end secured to a pin ill provided on the receptacle and its other end secured to a boss ll provided on the gallery plate 12 as particularly shown in Figure It. This spring nornially tends to prevent the receptacle 37 from rotating: when the eccentric 4:1 and tangent post 17 are rotated as will hercinafter he described. A cam here shown as heinc formed of a small red or wire is suitahly secured to the outer wall of the receptacle 5? by such means as brazing or solder ing. This cam is arranged in spaced relation to the periphery of the receptacle 37 and adapted to engage a detent 46 provided on the clapper alve S-l as shown in Figures 3. l and 5. A stop 4:? is provided on the receptacle 37 adapted to engage a stop pin as to limit the rotation of the receptacle 37 and therefore the cam 45. The cam wire 45 also preferably provided with a horizontal end portion 49 adapted to overhang the detent 4C6 when the valve is in open position.

In the operation of this novel device in conjunction with a meter of the type here shown, the gas enters the intake pipe from the service line, then passes through the intalte passage 26, through the port 27 and into the gas chamber 13, the pressure ol' the frat: causing the valve Elel to open. From the chamber 13. the gas passes through the ports and 29. depending upon the position of the slide valves let. and alternately into the interior of the diaphragms and into the diaphragm chambers in the lower pertion of the casing 11 of the meter. The gas is then alternately pumped therefrom, by the oscillatory movement of the dia pl'lragms, through either of the valve ports or '39 through the D valves ll and into the central port 31 to the discharge passage 32 and thence into the outlet pipe As the diaphragms are thus actuated or expanded and depressed by the pressure of the gas and by the openingandclosing oi the valves 1th the shafts will be caused to oscillate, thereby imparting a rotary movement to the tangent post 1'? by means of the connecting: rods 19' and crank arm 18 \Vhen gas is thus flowing through the intake port 27 and into the gas chamber and the meter is functioning, the cam will he mbved out of Contact with the detent,

in on the valve ill to the position shown in Figure 2. therehy allowing the valve to open. Such movement oi. the cam 4L5 is caused by the eccentric -Zl:l rotating in the viscous medium contained in the receptacle which otters sullicient resistance to the occcntric rotating therein to cause it to rotate the receptacle against the tension of the spring until the limit step i? ciilgap es the stop pin As the tangent post 17 and. the eccentric ll. continue to rotate, the re ceptacle ill" will he held in such position with the cam 45 out of engagement with the detent All of the *alve until the how of gas through the meter is interrupted or shut; oil'. as when the lguu-uer or other device to which as, is being; supplied is shut oil. A soon as the tars through the meter is thus interrupted the tension of the spiral spring i1 2 will gradually rotate the receptacle 3? in the opposite direction. thereby moving the cam :45 into engagement; with the detent l6 on the valve. Bl with the resultant closing of the valve as shown in Figures 3, i and 5.

fits soon as the burner cock or other device being: supplied with gas again opened, a tlccrease in gas pressure will he etl'ected in the outlet ot the meter, thereby causing the on the inlet side of the meter to expand with the result that a slight movement tun he imparted to the tangent post. Because of the viscous medium within the receptacle it this receptacle will also be rotated caused by the eccentric 4E1 rotating therein. This rotation of the receptacle 3'? :auscs the cam a5 to again he moved out of contact with the valve detent 416, thereby allowing the valve to he opened by the gas pressure hcneath it.

Thus itwill he seen that by the employment of this novel valve-locking n'leans in conjunction with a gas meter the usual intake port therein will he atitoinatically closed and locked, whenever the meter is not operating. Also should the registering mechanism tail to lui'ictiou on account 01' a leak in the diapln'aglns or valves allowinp gas to pass without causing a movement of the meter mechanism, there will he no movement of the receptacle 3? and the cam wire 45 to unlock the *alve ill; and allow the gas pressure to open it.

I claim as my invention:

1. A fluid meter having a fluid measuring meachnism including a fluid passage, a normally open valve therein and a rotary element actuated when the meter is operated, in combination with means tending to close said valve and hold it closed, means con trolled by said element for resist-inc EETltCll tendency only while said element isrotating, whereby the valve will. be closed when rotation ceases.

2. A fluid meter havinc a fluid. intake and a normally open valve therefor, a rotary tangent post, means for locking the valve closed when the post is stationary, and means controlled by'said post for releasing and holding said locking means in unlockingposition while said postisrotating.

3. A fluid Inet'er having a fluid intake port and a normally open valve therefor, a rotary tangent post, a receptacle rotatable about thetangentpost and containing VIS- cous fluid, an eccentric secured to said post and rotatable in said fluid,- means for yieldingly resisting rotation of said receptacle With the eccentric means connected to the receptacle and actuated thereby and under the restoring influence of the resisting means when the post becomes stationary to close said valve and lock the same in its closed position, and release said valve when said post is rotating.

4:. A fluid meter having a fluid intake port and a tilting valve therefor, a rotary tangent post, a cam device with means for moving it to a position for locking the valve closed and means actuated by the rotation of said tangent post for moving the cam device in the opposite direction for releasing said valve. V

5. A fluid meter having a fluid intake port and a normally open valve therefor, a rotary tangent post, a receptacle rotatable about the tangent post and having a viscous fluid therein, an eccentric secured to said post and located in said fluid, a cam connected to said receptacle, and means coacting therewith to move said cam in position to. close said valve when said tangent post is sta tionary said receptacle being'actuable by the rotation of the post to move thecam to a position to release the valve.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of July, 1924.

CHARLES B. GAMBLE. 

